And In This Corner....Part 2

Here's an update on our bus situation. I'll try and keep it short.
On the day of the previously mentioned "situation" on the bus I made a few very upset phone calls to the First Student Bus Company, Tigard-Tualatin School District Office, School, and Principal. All were very helpful except for the busing office. I spoke with a woman who was in charge of creating bus routes for our school. For future reference her name is Jean Callo. I was very polite in explaining my frustration and disappointment in the bus driver and she treated me like I was some unimportant parent with just "another complaint". I helped her to adjust that thinking rather quickly with a polite verbal smack down. I helped her to understand that if she did not alter this situation before my children boarded the bus the next morning I would indeed have the news media, both t.v. and newspaper, at the bus stop the next Monday ready to do a report on overcrowded buses in one of the most wealthy school districts in the state. Jean was not happy and told me not to jump to extremes. Right, cause an extreme should only happen if one of my ladies is hurt, not just in danger.
I also politely reminded her of the buses that do pass by us with seats available each morning and let her know that it did not go unnoticed that those buses came from neighborhoods that have big beautiful homes in them. I reassured her that our children, 7 kids from a apartment complex, would be grateful if one of those buses would stop and pick us up. Jean said she was not playing favoritism but lets be honest...
I'm not proud of it but yes, I did play the "I'll tattle to the media" card and the "it's because we live in an apartment, isn't it?" card. But you know what? It worked! We are still on the same bus BUT the bus driver now leaves the first 3 seats open so when the kiddos get on in the morning they just sit down. No more wandering around looking for a seat. No more big kids being mean. No more standing while the bus is moving. No more sitting 5 to a seat. No More!
So while I did consider my sister's suggestion of slashing her tires and giving some stink-eye, I choose the high road and threatened public scrutiny that could cause embarrassment and create more questions on fair busing policies. Although I am not above giving stink-eye every morning!

And In This Corner...

Me! Let's start off with a fun little fact, why don't we? Did you know that it is legal for children to sit 3 to a seat on the school bus? Did you also know that the number of children able ride on a particular bus is determined by the 3 to a seat rule. So if we have a 10 seat bus we must arrange for 30 kids to ride that bus. No less. Do you follow? I can understand the thought behind this. Elementary schoolers are small and their little bums can fit in a seat quite easily so therefore 3 to a seat could be just as safe as 2 middle schoolers in a seat. Now here is my complaint. Just because you have the appropriate number of children riding the bus to fit 3 to a seat does not mean that there are always 3 to a seat. Didn't you ever try to sit down and some kid wouldn't push over? And whoever this rude kid was just totally ignored you as you tried to get seated before the bus started moving?
All the kids at our bus stop are having this problem this year and have ended up sitting 4 or more to a seat on the way to school because some rude, obstinate, bratty kid would not share their seat. What happened to the days of bus monitors? Some adult who can help get everyone situated and safe? We are the last stop before the school and these nasty kids are making the morning bus ride dreadful for my ladies and their friends.
I have called to talk to school bus department about this and they tell me I am over reacting! Today the bus driver took off while my little Braley was still trying to find a place to sit. The look of panic on her face was almost too much for me. You don't drive while a child is standing! Where did she finally find a seat? I don't know. Most likely on Jayden's lap like she did the other day. Can you believe it? The stinking bus driver is in for an earful this afternoon when she drops them off.
I typically do not condone arguing with other adults but today I say "Bring It On." I have officially become one of those super embarrassing parents who do super embarrassing things right in front of their children. Thankfully, my ladies have not realized that my current actions are reason for embarrassment. I don't know what to do. Obviously I could drive them but riding the bus is huge to them. It's all part of their school day. We have 2 other buses drive right past us on their way to school with tons of empty seats. There is room for these kids, the transportation department is just not willing to help.
I used to think my mom fought unnecessary battles with the school in our behalf on everything from buses to proper teachers. It was so mortifying and yet now I understand. She just loved us and wanted us to be safe, happy and she wanted us to understand it was alright to stand up for things we felt strongly about. Good job mama...message received loud and clear. So off I go to fight "the man." Wish me LOTS of luck and any suggestions on how to handle this would help!

Guess Who's In Preschool!

Ansen is! He had his first day of yesterday and did fantastic. He has always watched the ladies head off to school and yesterday he was the one to attend class. Can you say dream come true? He was actually so afraid that I wouldn't let him stay that he didn't want to kiss me goodbye for fear that I would change my mind and haul him out of there. Trust me Ansen...that won't happen. After some coaxing from his teachers he finally he ran over, gave me a quick peck on the lips and ran off as fast as his little legs would carry him just to make sure I didn't grab him. His teachers got a kick out of his antics and he absolutely loved his teachers. Mr. Ansen is anxious to get to school again on Thursday. So I now have a 2nd grader, kindergartner, 2nd year preschooler (Jalen just missed the kindergarten cut-off by a month--what a bummer), and a 1st year preschooler. Wow. How great is this? I wish this meant easy street for me but it just makes things a little more crazy! It means 4 kids to get out the door, 4 classes to volunteer in, 4 times the paperwork coming though the door, and 4 times the germs coming my way. It will be great though and I am so excited for all for of my school loving, backpack carrying students. Good job Little Man. Enjoy your school year!

Happy Birthday Jason!

Could life get any more exiting for this 34 year old guy? New job (promotion). New car. Great kids. Cool dog. Wicked awesome wife. Wonderful parents. Charismatic sister and brother. Wonderful in-law's. Charismatic sister's and brother's in-law's. Terrific friends. Good town. Nice home. Fabulous church. What more could a guy ask for on his birthday? There is one thing, sauerkraut. Yes, I said sauekraut. So in order to fulfill that birthday wish we are headed off to Oktoberfest tonight to party like the Germans. All except for that getting smashed part. It should be fun and I am sure we will have particularly interesting pictures to share with you towmorrow. So for now--HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY/JASON!!! We love you!

I Have This Problem...

I have this problem. It has never been a problem for me before. In fact, it has always been an issue of Jason's, not me. What is my problem you ask? Well, I can't sleep. At all. I get to bed and 2 hours later I am laying there wide awake. Nothing to do. No one to talk to. Just me. It is driving me insane! I am not a night person so instead of getting up and doing something productive, like reading or folding laundry, I just lay there mad that I am awake. I lay there for what seems like hours. When I finally do get back to sleep I have the most odd dreams. For instance, last night I had a dream that we adopted a baby elephant and a bear cub. We were trying to hide them from our neighbors because it was against the city rules to have baby animals. You could only have full-grown adult animals. So a grizzly bear and a 2 ton elephant would have been fine. Not Dumbo and baby Bear though. Hmmmm......yes, I know. I'm a crackpot. I also had a dream that my friend Michelle forgot her son Nathan at my house and she called to say she'd pick him up in November. Huh? I am a dreamer typically, but not like this.
To top it all off here is the cruelest twist of fate....Ansen IS sleeping! Through the night. Doesn't get up at all. (fyi~he is the worlds worst sleeping 2 year old. I promise. We have had about 10 full nights of sleep since he was born...until this week). Is it that my body just is not used to a full nights rest? Typically I am up twice with Ansen and then there is always the inevitable "Mom! I need help in the bathroom!" yells from the ladies because they are too afraid to turn off the bathroom light and get back to bed on their own. We have a boogie man and he resides comfortably between the toilet and the ladies pillows between the hours of 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. But not this week. Everyone is sleeping soundly. No yells or crying. Just me laying there.
So how do you deal with those sleepless night that should not be sleepless? I am starting to get really tired and considered--only momentarily--taking a swig of good ol' NyQuil to gimme some relief. I know it wouldn't work though. Help!

Tag! I'm it.

My friend Nicole tagged me so here it goes.

4 Place's I've Worked:
1. YMCA as a lifeguard & swim instructor
2. RICKS College. Again, lifeguard & swim instructor
3. Walt Disney World. Again, lifeguard & swim instructor
(Are you detecting a pattern?)
4. Bridgeport Elementary as the Director of After School Clubs and Activities

4 Places I Have Lived:
1. Springfield, Massachusetts
2. Orlando, Florida
3. Laie, Hawaii
4. Las Vegas, Nevada
.....now Oregon

4 T.V. Shows I Love:
1. Lost
2. The Office
3. Ghost Whisperer (don't laugh, I like it)
4. hmmm...Hannah Montana

4 Foods I Love:
1. Ice cream
2. Ka'lua Pork
3. fruit salad
4. Avocados

4 Sites I Visit Daily:
1. e-mail
2. blogs
3. realestate.com
4. wamu.com (my bank)

4 Favorite Restaurants
1. Stanfords
2. Cheesecake Factory
3. Hale'iwa Joes
4. Rosie's Deli

4 Places I'd Rather Be:
1. On a beach on the North Shore, Oahu
2. Massachusetts with the fabulous Forsberg's
3. Disney World with my hubby
4. At a spa getting a pampered

4 Favorite Things To Do:
1. Day Trips with my family
2. Dessert night with friends
3. Sundays in Molalla
4. Eat dinner as a family at the table

Things I Want At This Moment:
1. Someone to fold my laundry
2. A house
3. A haircut
4. A new book to read...any suggestions?

4 People To Tag:
1. All VDB's
2. All Seasiders
3. Danna, Dalynn, Mandy
4. You!

Labor Day Weekend, Tri-Cities Style

Over Labor Day weekend we took family trip up to Tri-Cities to visit Jason's sister Danna and her girls Junie B., Angie, and Emily. Her husband Mark and son MJ were off being manly and hunting so it was just us girls and Jason and Ansen. We had such a great time and boy did we love the warm weather! On Saturday we spent the entire morning and some of the afternoon playing in the pool. Ansen was a madman jumping in deep end every 10 seconds and Braley and Jayden were back and forth between the pool in the hot tub so many time I couldn't keep track.

Our very favorite part was to have Jason throw us into the air while we did back somersaults into the pool. The more adventurous kiddos (Jayden and Braley) enjoyed being thrown from the pool deck into the deep end.

Jason and Ansen gearing up for a flip

Jayden achieving a double somersault


Braley flying through the air

"This pool ROCKS!"


Jayden sticking the landing

Braley's long jump

Truthfully, I can't tell you why Ansen's all bundled up because it was

94 degrees out

On Sunday we hung out with our fellow Seasiders Damon and Libbie and Brad and Gloria. It was really nice to catch up and see each other. I love it when you haven't seen someone in ages (like 5 years) and it feels like you just saw one another yesterday. Damon and Libbie's girls Edyn and Ava were so cute and exact replicas of their parents. Bard and Gloria have two kids too and their daughters name is Jaden....hmmmmm, I wonder where they got that fantastic name. I'm pretty sure they knew this extremely cute little blonde baby in Laie by the same name. Just a thought. Anywho...just a quick shout out to our great friends in Hawaii-I just want to say we love you guys and a big Mahalo for hanging out with us even though we had the Islands cutest baby with us 24/7. You all are great!

Overall, we had a great weekend and we will be sure to get up to Tri-Cities more often. Braley made sure to make the trip super memorable by throwing up all over the back of the van just as we drove into Portland. Figures. Ahhh, there's no place like home.

The Ladies On Their 1st Day Of School

So today was the big day. Jayden began 2nd grade and Braley headed off to kindergarten. Jayden had the chance to drop off her school supplies last night and meet her new teacher. To our happy surprise Jayden's teacher, Mrs. Huchins, came waddling into the classroom 7 1/2 months pregnant! So Jayden will have a sub (Mrs. Schiffer) from mid-October through Christmas break. Mrs. Huchins promised Jayden that she would bring the baby into class as soon as she felt up to par and has asked Jayden to write down some baby advice since this is her first baby. Jayden knows quite a few kids in her class and is really eager to get the school year started. On the way to class this morning she stopped in the library to hand in her summer reading list. Mrs. Lockwood-the school librarian-was so excited to see that Jayden read all 30 books she committed too. I can't believe that we have a 2nd grader. I swear just yesterday we had her buried up to her armpits in sand on Hukilau beach.

Armed with her Disney Princess backpack and a new pink polk-a-dot dress Braley walked into Bridgeport Elementary like a pro. While other kindergarteners were clutching to their parents, Braley went charging down the hall with all the confidence in the world. It didn't matter if I was there or not...she was all business. Mrs. Kronsup was there to meet us at the door and spent a few minutes getting to know Braley. She seems really fantastic and the best part about her is that she is from New England! So I am sure we will get along just fine. Braley found her table and became fast friends with Stella and Kaylee, who sit across and kitty corner from her. Tomorrow the ladies will ride the bus together and both will be gone all day. I thought I'd be doing cartwheels but, for now, its going to take some getting used to.

I know this sounds lame and mock if you must, but I can't believe we are starting this stage in our lives. My ladies are so big and confident, and well....they are wonderful little ladies who really have made my life so amazing (yes, I'm crying). I have all the confidence in them and I can't wait to see what this year has in store.